New Jersey Devils

Player News - Devils

New Jersey Devils General Manager Ray Shero said he expects to sign first round pick Pavel Zacha in the coming week.

"Now that everything has settled down a little bit, we'll reconnect with Patrik Stefan and give it a go to sign him," Shero said. "Hopefully, that's going to be the case. As I told (Zacha), that's our goal and it has been from the outset. I've said this before: there's no red flags We're going to get to it. So, we'll get this thing going next week and, hopefully, get him signed." The 18-year-old was selected by New Jersey with the sixth overall selection in last June's Entry Draft.

The camp started on Saturday in Calgary, but because Zacha and the Devils haven't reached an agreement on an Entry Level Contract yet, the player's agent doesn't want to take any chances. "He doesn't have a contract, so we don't want to risk him getting an injury," agent Patrik Stefan said. "I spoke to the coach and he understands. We're going to talk next week and, hopefully, we're going to get a deal done,"

The New Jersey Devils have hired Paul Castron to serve as their director of amateur scouting.

Castron had been serving in that role with the Columbus Blue Jackets. "I would to thank Jarmo Kekalainen and the Columbus Blue Jackets for their cooperation in allowing Paul Castron to join the New Jersey Devils," said Devils GM Ray Shero. "Paul has an outstanding track record of evaluating and developing prospects for more than 20 years. We feel that he has the experience and leadership qualities to help us accomplish our player development goals." The Devils haven't had a great track record in the draft during the cap era. Longtime Devils scouting director David Conte was let go earlier this month.

"I'm really excited to step up here," Schneider said. "We're in transition somewhat, but (I'll) hopefully be a calming presence and a veteran presence, even though I feel I'm a young 29. I hope to put my mark on a franchise and organization and hopefully carry them to a Stanley Cup one day." Schneider is one of the league's top goaltenders, but the Devils have one of the worst offenses in the NHL. The result is that he should have a top-10 save percentage and GAA, but he might not even reach the 30-win mark.

Dainius Zubrus has been officially bought out by the New Jersey Devils.

Zubrus had to clear waivers before New Jersey could terminate his contract and now he has. The Devils will still be charged his $3.1 million cap hit in 2015-16 because he was a 35-and-over signing, but they don't have to pay his full salary now and have freed up a roster spot for a future move.

Dainius Zubrus was caught off guard by the New Jersey Devils' decision to buy him out.

That's partially due to the timing as Zubrus would have been more prepared had this happened in June. At the same time he knows he's coming off of a bad season "stats-wise" as he recorded just 10 points in 74 games. "Saying that, I think I can play in the NHL," Zubrus said. "I'm an NHL player and I think I will play."

The Devils have until the August 15 transfer deadline to sign Zacha if they want him to be eligible to play in the NHL in 2015-16. Zacha was taken with the sixth overall pick in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft.

"You're talking to other managers and there are certainly free agents out there," Shero said. "It's not that anything is imminent and it really wasn't about Dainius himself. It was more about the roster spot/flexibility moving forward." Because of Zubrus' age when he signed his contract, his full $3.1 million annual cap hit will still count against the Devils in 2015-16. He had four goals and six assists in 74 contests last season.

As the Bergen Record notes, the Devils won't actually get any cap savings by buying out Dainius Zubrus' contract.

That's because Zubrus was signed as a 35-years-old and over player, so his $3.1 million cap hit will count against New Jersey in 2015-16 even if he's bought out. The Devils are saving some money by terminating his contract though and freeing up a roster spot for a young forward. Zubrus had 10 points and 42 penalty minutes in 74 games last season. He's on unconditional waivers.

The New Jersey Devils haven't made a decision yet regarding whether or not to offer Anthony Brodeur a tryout agreement for training camp.

The Devils drafted Brodeur, but never signed him to an entry-level contract, thus conceding his rights. Despite that they offered Brodeur a spot in this year's development camp and he accepted. Brodeur had a 3.88 GAA and .882 save percentage in 16 QMJHL games last season.

Devils' General Manager Ray Shero believes that Adam Larsson's new contract is fair for both sides.

Larsson inked a six-year, $25 million contract with New Jersey on Saturday, which his General Manager was thrilled about. "I think this is a good deal for both sides," Shero said. "This is a young defenseman at 22 years old who is signed for a six-year term. Adam showed a commitment that he really wanted to be here." Like many young defenseman, the 22-year-old took some time to develop after being the fourth overall pick in the 2011 draft. Larsson scored 24 points in just 64 games in 2014-15.

The Devils have signed Adam Larsson to a six-year, $25 million contract.

The 22-year-old was a restricted free agent coming off a $900,000 salary last season, so this is a nice raise for the talented defenseman. Larsson was the team’s fourth-overall pick in the 2011 draft. He had 24 points in 64 games last year. It’s clear Ray Shero and Co. believe Larsson has a very bright future ahead of him.

The New Jersey Devils have hired Tom Fitzgerald as their new assistant General Manager.

Fitzgerald held the same position with the Pittsburgh Penguins last season, but he has opted to join former GM Ray Shero in New Jersey. "He's a very good hockey man," Pens' GM Jim Rutherford said. "He's a guy we'll miss in our department." After a 17-year-career in the NHL, Shero gave Fitzgerald his first front office opportunity, so the fact that they are working together again makes sense. The Penguins haven't found a replacement for him just yet, but Rutherford believes they will promote someone from within.

Adam Larsson's agent, J.P. Barry, and the Pittsburgh Penguins are expected to work this weekend on ironing out a long-term extension.

The negotiations with Larsson were temporarily sidetracked as the Devils dealt with the surprise departure of president Lou Lamoriello, who joined the Toronto Maple Leafs as their general manager. The team is moving past that now though and a Larsson contract would be Devils GM Ray Shero's first major act with New Jersey post-Lamoriello. There's an arbitration hearing scheduled for Wednesday, so the two sides are up against a deadline if they want to ink a long-term deal.